Thomas Cook CEO Pushes a Turnaround Plan, Dodges Takeover Chatter
Photo Credit: Peter Fankhauser, CEO of Thomas Cook, acknowledged on stage at Skift Forum Europe with Skift Europe Editor Patrick Whyte that 2018 was a tough year for the European leisure travel industry. But he's optimistic about the coming year. Skift / Russell Harper
Skift Take
Peter Fankhauser needs to act speedily to bolster Thomas Cook Group's resilience in the face of tumult in the packaged holiday segment. But the CEO is persuasive in arguing that he has a winning plan that's begun to show results.
Last year was a challenging one for the European leisure travel industry. But Peter Fankhauser, CEO of Thomas Cook Group, acknowledges that his company needs to become nimbler if it wants to adapt well to future challenges.
Thomas Cook, which took 22 million people on vacations last year, has struggled financially of late. Hiccups have included Brexit uncertainty and unseasonably hot European weather. The nearly 200-year-old company has reportedly drawn some interest recently from potential buyers.
Fankhauser said Thomas Cook had taken steps to become more agile to adapt to changing market conditions. While speaking at Skift Forum Europe
